Chapter 103: Unexpected Encounters

Chapter 103: Unexpected Encounters

After Ye Xiaoxiao left, Hao Yanyan tentatively asked, "Was that guy Ye Xiaoxiao's boyfriend?"

Xu Jianwen's expression turned grim.

"I thought Ye Xiaoxiao had gone back to Baishi Village, but she’s actually been in the capital this whole time."

That’s what Hao Yanyan believed.

But Xu Jianwen just glanced at her and stood up.

"Don’t speculate about things you’re not sure of."

He knew that Ye Xiaoxiao had indeed returned to Baishi Village.

And then she came back to the capital with impressive grades.

Hao Yanyan stared at him, shocked. "Jianwen, where are you off to?"

Xu Jianwen: "I’m heading back. I’ve taken care of the bill, so feel free to finish your meal."

Hao Yanyan jumped up, alarmed. "Here, take the gift I got for you."

Xu Jianwen didn’t stop. "I don’t need it, you should keep it. I’ll call the driver to pick you up later. Go back after you finish eating."

Though cold, Xu Jianwen had arranged everything.

It was dark, and leaving Hao Yanyan alone wasn’t safe.

Luckily, he could just call the driver.

Hao Yanyan sat there, helpless, watching him walk away.

Seeing Ye Xiaoxiao again, it was clear he hadn’t moved on.

But Xu Jianwen didn’t catch up with her.

It was as if he’d missed his chance, and now it was gone forever.

At the campus dormitory fork, Ye Xiaoxiao prepared to part ways with Zhang Kaining.

Before leaving, Zhang Kaining said he would figure out the formula tomorrow and let her take a look.

Ye Xiaoxiao advised him, "Be careful who you share the formula with."

Zhang Kaining: "I have complete faith in you."

Ye Xiaoxiao gave a silent nod and walked away.

Over the next few days, Ye Xiaoxiao and Zhang Kaining threw themselves into producing the first batch of five hundred plasters.

Ye Xiaoxiao and Song Guangjing both inspected the finished products.

The plasters were effective, just as they’d hoped.

They named this batch Zhang's Plaster. Each plaster was plastic-wrapped, featuring the brand name prominently on the packaging.

It looks very high-end.

Sales at Rende Pharmacy are booming.

While most people avoid Zhang's Plaster because of its steep price, there are always those with deep pockets willing to pay for relief.

Once doctors started recommending it to patients, Zhang's Plaster quickly gained fame.

The initial batch of five hundred units flew off the shelves in just a week.

Right away, they started on the second batch. Song Guangjing assisted Zhang Kaining in tweaking the formula to make it more effective and harder to replicate.

This time, they produced two thousand units, and half were gone in under three days.

It's clearly a money-maker.

Plus, other pharmacies in the capital are reaching out to Rende Pharmacy to stock Zhang's Plaster.

Rende Pharmacy's manager has talked with Song Guangjing about ramping up production and expanding sales.

Song Guangjing told the manager to check with Ye Xiaoxiao.

The manager also picked up on Mr. Song's high regard for his apprentice, possibly prepping her as his successor, and naturally didn't dare to slack off.

After hearing the manager's plan, Ye Xiaoxiao figured it made sense to start by promoting Zhang's Plaster in the capital. If it takes off, they could roll it out nationwide later.

She jumped right into discussing production and sales with the manager.

In the end, Ye Xiaoxiao decided to line up buyers first, and once they paid deposits, Rende Pharmacy would kick off production.

That way, they could keep costs down.

The manager was on board with Ye Xiaoxiao's plan.

Things moved along smoothly.

...

Ye Xiaoxiao passed Lu Hanchuan a pack of plaster.

"Here's what you wanted earlier."

Lu Hanchuan checked out the pack and saw the plaster had been redone, way fancier than before.

"We finally get together, and you just hand me this stuff."

Lu Hanchuan looked at Ye Xiaoxiao leisurely.

Ye Xiaoxiao cocked her head, "This is my golden goose. I'm giving it to you for free—it's worth a lot."

Besides sending some to her grandpa back home, Lu Hanchuan's the only one who gets this deal.

This guy has no clue how lucky he is.

Lu Hanchuan tossed the stuff on the back seat and pulled Ye Xiaoxiao close, "So, how should I thank Xiao Xiao?"

Ye Xiaoxiao leaned back slightly, but the hand behind her head stopped her.

The car's tight space was thick with their mingled breaths.

Lu Hanchuan leaned in and kissed her.

They didn’t part until much later.

Ye Xiaoxiao’s eyes were glistening, like a lost fawn.

Lu Hanchuan ran his hand through her hair a few times before releasing her.

"I’ll take you somewhere."

Lu Hanchuan drove her to a large courtyard near Jinghua University.

This area was packed with faculty housing, just a stone’s throw from the school.

Ye Xiaoxiao recalled that decades later, these houses would fall into disrepair, but for now, the five or six-story buildings and rows of bicycles downstairs spoke of the area’s prosperity.

"I snagged a place here, close to your school. If dorm life isn’t for you, you can move in."

Lu Hanchuan’s tone was nonchalant, his usual laid-back self.

Ye Xiaoxiao, now wide awake, grabbed his arm and asked, "How’d you pull this off? Isn’t this housing for teachers only?"

Lu Hanchuan drawled, "Don’t sweat it. The place is yours. Move in whenever, no one’s kicking you out."

Lu Hanchuan handed Ye Xiaoxiao a new key, "The lock’s been changed. This is the only one."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "You gave me a key before, too."

Lu Hanchuan said matter-of-factly, "That place is farther from school. You can crash there when you visit me at the base."

Lu Hanchuan parked and led Ye Xiaoxiao to Unit 3, Room 301.

Back then, apartments didn’t have shared spaces, so even though it was just a two-bedroom, one living room unit, it felt spacious with high ceilings.

The building looked brand new, likely built in recent years.

The place was fully furnished, and the lavish style screamed Lu Hanchuan.

"How long have you been setting this up? It’s totally move-in ready."

Lu Hanchuan: "Since you’re not returning to the Hao family, you’ll need a place in Beijing."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "..."

Lu Hanchuan continued introducing the house, "The second bedroom could be a study. The view from the window’s pretty great."

Ye Xiaoxiao asked, "If the second bedroom’s a study, where will you sleep?"

Lu Hanchuan was silent for a moment, then weakly said, "Can’t I crash in the master bedroom?"

Ye Xiaoxiao shot him a look that said, "You figure it out," and replied, "Even if you paid for it, I don’t think so."

Lu Hanchuan lowered his eyes and thought, "I thought this could be our future home. Too small? Han Xing’s got a plot reserved for us. We could build a villa there."

Ye Xiaoxiao nearly clapped a hand over his mouth.

Future home?

They’d only been official for a month, and this was just their second date.

Ye Xiaoxiao blinked and said, "Sweetheart, you’re getting way ahead of yourself."